The Hunter's Gambit

by Nicholas McIntire

  He had been different then, impatient and selfish. Jonas had spent the last year trying to atone for the force with which he’d pulled Aleksei away from his home, from his father, from everything that he knew.

  But hate it as he may, it was still one of the only means he possessed that he knew would catch the Knight’s attention in a dream.

  His means were justified a moment later when Aleksei’s dreamform materialized before him.

  “Jonas?” his Knight asked, rubbing his eyes.

  Before Jonas had a chance to respond, he was caught in Aleksei’s heartfelt embrace. Aleksei kissed him hard, and there was a desperation there that surprised Jonas.

  Finally the prince stepped back, glad he didn’t have to actually stand in dreamspeak. “Now honestly, I haven’t been gone for that long.”

  Aleksei chuckled, but Jonas caught the man’s nervous air. “You of all people oughta know that a great deal can happen in a small amount of time.” He looked at the Magus meaningfully, “Especially to me.”

  Jonas frowned, “What are you talking about?”

  Rather than answer, Aleksei pulled his shirt over his head. Jonas watched in confusion as the other man extended his arm. The Mantle rippled down his arm and, upon reaching his wrist, lifted away in angry red talons.

  Jonas' eyes widened.

  “I killed Hugo Malak.” Aleksei said flatly.

  “With this?” Jonas asked, indicating the Mantle. He reached forward and the tendrils swirled towards him. Aleksei tensed, but the Mantle twirled around Jonas' wrist, stroking his exposed skin and sending warm prickles down his spine.

  Aleksei frowned in confusion and dropped his arm, allowing the Mantle to contract. “I…drained him. At the time I was crippled, but by the time the Mantle was finished with him I was…restored, I suppose.”

  Jonas could hardly credit his hearing. It was exactly as he’d read. He hadn’t even realized it at the time, but Aleksei was in possession of a very dangerous constructed magic. The question remaining was, dangerous to whom?

  “Why didn’t it attack you?” Aleksei asked after a long moment, staring at his wrist, at the writhing blood-red tattoo, almost as though betrayed.

  “Probably because it can’t.” Jonas said softly, recalling what he’d read about parasitic magics. “You and I are intertwined. It would no sooner hurt me than you. I think it sees us as the same person. And it would never destroy its host.”

  Aleksei shivered at the word. “You make it sound like it’s alive.”

  Jonas shrugged, “On some level, I think it is. I don’t think this is something the Wood did to you; I think it’s something she placed on you. Like a leech, but apparently this leech works in reverse.”

  Aleksei shook his head. “I don’t have time to try and understand this. Jonas. Perron issued a proclamation for my capture. Dead or alive.”

  Jonas' attention whipped back to Aleksei, “What? He doesn’t have the authority for something like that.”

  “I didn’t think so either, but it’s all over southern Ilyar.”

  Jonas cursed to himself, “The sheer audacity! That’s akin to signing a writ of execution. For me. No one in Ilyar has the right to order such a thing. Where are you now?”

  Aleksei sighed, “In a field, northeast of the farm.”

  Jonas frowned, “The farm?” And then he understood. Aleksei wasn’t stupid enough to have remained in Kalinor after Malak’s death. He wondered how long ago all of this had happened, if Aleksei had already had time to get that far south.

  “Someone sent assassins, Jonas.”

  “Who?” he could feel the heat of his anger, the magic burning and swirling around his fingertips should he decide to invoke it. He pushed the urge away, and the Archanium whorls dissipated in a burst of color and crackling.

  Aleksei shook his head, “I don’t know. But they weren’t after me. They didn’t even know I’d be there.”

  “Henry?” Jonas whispered.

  Aleksei nodded.

  “Where are you headed now?”

  “Mornj. It’s the safest place I know of within a ready distance.”

  Jonas sighed, “Alright. Go to Mornj. I’ll try to get there as fast as possible. If you have to leave for some reason….” He stopped and thought a moment, “If you have to leave, I’ll find you. I’ll stop in Kalinor and tell Andariana what you’ve told me. We’ll get this straightened out, Aleksei.”

  The Knight’s broad shoulders slumped in obvious relief, “Thank you.”

  Jonas nodded, “I’ve found some very valuable information here, but I don’t want to take the time now to explain. You’re going to need your energy for traveling. I’ll try to come to you again in three days time.”

  Aleksei sighed, “Alright. Be careful.”

  “You too. I love you.”

  Aleksei smiled. That handsome smile that always melted Jonas' heart. The smile that at once conveyed love and a constant, unspoken apology that Jonas never completely understood.

  The world melted away around Jonas. He could feel himself flowing back into the room in the Basilica. His eyes snapped open and he stood.

  Jonas walked to the door the led onto the balcony, stepping out into the cold night air. This far north, Harvest was a much colder season.

  The Ylik Water shimmered in the moonlight. He spared a moment to take in its simple beauty. There had been a period in his life when he’d found more time to enjoy such small pleasures.

  But now that time had passed. Now he lived with the weight of concern engendered from friendship. From love. And right then he was more concerned for Aleksei than he’d been in a long time.

  Jonas stepped onto the railing of the balcony, controlling his thoughts and banishing his doubts. He needed to get to his Knight as fast as possible, and he didn’t have time to spare.

  With a grim determination Jonas dove off the balcony, rising a moment later on the wings of a great falcon. He resisted the urge to throw out a cry to the night as the exultant sensation of flying overcame him. The freedom was intoxicating.

  He spiraled higher and higher into the night-black, finally settling on a strong current. The ground rushed beneath him as he raced south, towards Ilyar.

  Towards Aleksei.

  Andariana sat in her chamber, considering the options before her. It was easy enough to assemble her available forces, but there was no target to strike. What she truly needed was her Lord Captain.

  And while she commanded a far superior Lord Captain of the Legion than his predecessor, he did her little good if he couldn’t be reached.

  But surely Sammul had summoned him! She’d commanded it ages ago. What, she wondered, could be keeping him? In the past Aleksei had been extremely punctual, and as a result she could only imagine some great catastrophe forcing his uncharacteristic delay.

  A sudden tap at her window startled her from her reverie. After a moment the tapping returned, this time more insistent.

  Andariana groaned irritably and stood, gliding to the window and throwing it open.

  A tiny bird flitted in, perching on her bed.

  Andariana studied the bird curiously. At first, she presumed it to be either unusually trusting or simply stupid. But upon further inspection, she found the tiny sparrow to possess the most extraordinary green eyes.

  “Hello, Aunt.” Jonas said as he shifted back into his human form.

  She yelped at seeing the bird shift so quickly, “Jonas!” she said breathlessly, “This is indeed a surprise.” She studied him suspiciously, “Where did you learn to do that?”

  Jonas grunted as he stretched his shoulders, “Not from Sammul, I can assure you. But you may be satisfied that I’ve done my own bit of study in the field.”

  She shook her head, desperately suppressing her wonder, “You take more risks than you should.”

  “As do you, dear Aunt.” Jonas countered. “I understand the Southern Lords have departed.”

  Andariana
nodded, “It would seem so, though I still don’t know exactly why. I can’t imagine they would rally around a madman like Krasik.”

  Jonas sighed, “Who else could they possibly choose?”

  Andariana turned her face away. She couldn’t bear anyone catching sight of her fear right then, “I felt the same might be true, I’ll admit. But to be faced with it is another matter entirely.”

  “Aunt, I am sorry to be the one to inform you, but it’s worse than you fear.”

  She looked at him sharply, “What do you mean?”

  “Krasik has grown stronger than last you dealt with him.”

  Andariana frowned, “His military will swell with Perron’s added muscle, but I doubt he is a tactician to match our Lord Captain….”

  “Before I departed for Dalita, I mentioned that Emelian Krasik had been referred to as the ‘Zra-Uul’. While with the Angelus,” Jonas shared a meaningful glance with his aunt, “I was able to read a good deal on the subject.”

  Andariana sat down, “And what have you to report, Nephew?”

  Jonas sighed, “We are in a great deal of trouble.”

  CHAPTER 35

  An Uncertain Snow

  THE INN WAS small, but by no means shabby. Henry observed it with the same critical eye he’d reserved a day before for a bushel of wheat. It had obvious flaws, certainly, but the exterior was satisfactory on the whole. Bad advice for evaluating any bushel of produce, but Aleksei seemed capable handling any internal rot in the inn, should the need arise.

  Aleksei turned to his father, “This’ll do.”

  Henry glanced back at the tavern and nodded. It had been almost two decades since he had traveled, much less lodged away from home. He readily bowed to his son’s own newly-gained expertise.

  Aleksei nodded towards the stable, “I’ll get the horses settled. Would you grab us a room?”

  Henry handed his son the reins and walked inside, hopeful not only for a room, but a pint. It had been a hard day’s ride from the farm, and while he understood the severity of the situation, and the necessity of the pace his son was setting, he also recognized the opportunity to unwind from such stresses.

  After all, Aleksei had been dealing with this sort of intensity for a good while now. Henry had spent the last twenty years of his life in the calm complacence of a farmer on the Southern Plain. That experience hardly lent itself to harsh rides across the Plain and brief stops at rough inns.

  He approached the counter with a ready smile.

  “Begging your pardon, ma’am,” he said with a small bow to the proprietress, “I am in need of a room.”

  “One silver crown.” she said, eyeing him up and down.

  Henry’s eyes widened, “A piece of silver? For a night? That’s madness! Surely you charge a more reasonable fee than that!”

  “It’s a silver crown or get out.” the woman spat.

  “Fifteen coppers.” came Aleksei’s forceful voice over Henry’s shoulder.

  Henry turned in surprise to see his son standing there, looking for everything to be a lord or a knight. Well, Henry supposed, Aleksei was the Lord Captain, and an Archanium Knight besides. More than either of those, his son was consort to the bloody Prince. By all rights, that made him far more than any petty lord.

  “Fifteen coppers and not a penny more. Unless, of course, you’d like to extort messengers of the Lord Captain?”

  The woman’s eyes narrowed, “Aye, sir. Fifteen coppers it is. A favor, sir, for the good Lord Captain.”

  Aleksei smiled charmingly, “And tell me, ma’am, what would you be thanking the Lord Captain for?”

  She shrugged, “I’ve heard the rumors, sir. He’s done away with Lord Malak, hasn’t he?”

  Aleksei chuckled dryly, “That’s the word. If it’s to be believed.”

  She nodded, “Well I say it is, and I say it’s a crying shame they’re after him for it. Did us a favor, if you ask me. Malak did nothing but tax us into the ground so he could go on getting fat in Kalinor with all the other leeches. Serves him right.”

  Aleksei said nothing to that. He merely threw down the coppers and bowed his head, “Good evening to you, ma’am. What room are we taking?”

  “Third on the left, upstairs.” she said after a bit of consideration.

  “Much appreciated, ma’am.”

  And with that Aleksei took Henry gently by the arm and led him to the room the woman had indicated. After bolting the door securely, he turned to find his father staring at him in surprise.

  “You lied to that woman.” Henry said matter-of-factly.

  Aleksei paused, “In a way, I suppose. What would you have me do? Announce my presence for every pickpocket and cutthroat in the room to salivate over? I have no interest in killing anyone tonight. Do you?”

  Henry looked away, but shook his head. Aleksei sighed. It had never occurred to him that it might be difficult to explain the necessity of deception his career sometimes required. Certainly not to his father.

  “Jonas is coming to meet us in Mornj, Da. I mean to meet him there as quickly as possible. You’ve seen the work I have to do sometimes. You helped me burn the bodies. So why are you surprised by one small deception?”

  Henry shook his head, “I don’t know, Son. I know that you kill people to keep your life. I understand that. It’s basic survival. But I can’t help but feel we robbed that woman.”

  Aleksei arched an eyebrow, “Why? Because we paid less than she demanded? No, Da, she wasn’t cheated. But you would have been if you’d handed over that silver crown. The world isn’t black and white, Da. Not like that.

  “The innkeeper thought she could get a few more coppers out of you because she knew you weren’t from around here. I had the same thing pulled on me when I visited Keiv-Alon for the first time. But even then I knew it was wrong, even if I wasn’t sure how.”

  “You’ve always had a good eye for justice.” Henry muttered.

  Aleksei sighed, “The point is, you’re not on the farm anymore, Da. You’re not in Voskrin anymore. These people won’t respect you for being honest or hardworking. They don’t care about that.

  “All they care about is how much money you have and how easy it’ll be to get it away from you. They won’t breathe down our necks too hard because they think we have important friends, but if we were just commoners there would be no concern for our wellbeing, only for the profit we represent.”

  Henry looked away, “I didn’t realize life in the city turned you into such a cynic.”

  “I’m not a cynic, Da. But I have learned to understand people better than I used to. I could live each day a happy man if I believed everyone in Ilyar was helping each other out and serving the common good rather than their own interests, but it just ain’t so.

  “Even the angels in Dalita are driven by power and gold to some extent. The men and women who claim to be so pious in service of their gods or goddesses have some self-interest. That’s what living in the city has taught me.”

  Henry nodded, but said nothing. Aleksei gave up trying to justify himself to his father. If Henry didn’t want to believe his son, no amount of argument would change that.

  Aleksei just didn’t want his father to have to learn the hard way, as he had. There would be no mystical bond to a powerful Magus to save Henry were he to make a mistake.

  “I’m going to the stable.” Aleksei said suddenly. “I want to make sure they brushed Agriphon down properly. Will you be alright up here alone?”

  “I managed quite well in your absence before.” Henry grumbled, with but a trace of bitterness. “I believe I can manage again.”

  Aleksei sighed to himself and stepped out of the room, shutting the door firmly behind him.

  He hated this. What had changed? When he’d first left the farm, it had been all he could do to keep from running back. But now…now there was a tense civility between himself and his father.

  The man seemed more a stranger than the kind, g
entle man Aleksei remembered. While they’d been on the farm everything had seemed much as it used to be. But ever since they’d been on the road, Henry had been different.

  He’s probably just adjusting to the change. A familiar voice echoed in his mind.

  Aleksei stopped, his hand on the door that led out into the stable yard. Then, with a mixture of joy and disbelief he flung the door open and rushed outside.

  A light snow was falling, the first snow of the season. It had already dusted the corral and the yard, but there was no mistaking the green-eyed sparrow sitting puffed-up on the gate. Aleksei grinned, coming a few paces short of the gate and standing still.

  “You said you’d meet me in Mornj.” he said softly.

  The air currents were stronger than I’d expected this time of year. Jonas responded with a hint of amusement.

  After a long moment, Aleksei realized that the Magus didn’t intend to shift back into his human form.

  “What’s wrong?” he asked.

  We need to talk. Jonas thought gravely.

  Aleksei’s smile faded. Matters, it seemed, were far more serious than he’d first believed.

  Jonas flitted onto his shoulder and Aleksei walked into the stable, questioning his Magus as he located and checked his horse.

  “Did you find what you were looking for?” Aleksei asked gently.

  Something to that effect, yes. We believe the Prime Gate remains sealed for the time being. But the Angelus seems blithely unconcerned about the Presence being unleashed.

  Aleksei frowned, “Does that seem out of character?”

  Not particularly, which is cause enough for alarm. But even if the seal is unbound today, the Gate will not open until the next full moon.

  Aleksei nodded, “Well, seeing we just had one a few days ago, it’ll be a few weeks before the next one.”

  Precisely. When I can find the time, I’d like to fly to the Cathedral of Dazhbog, just to make sure everything is being properly looked after. But for the moment, I’m afraid we’ll have to trust my grandmother at her word. Things are of more pressing importance here.